-1Chapter four

Hana limped slowly to her sanctuary. There was no place safer for her. Her house stood to her left, but that wasn't where she was headed. She looked down at her rain soaked school uniform and remembered her cloak.

"I...must've left it at Hatori's clinic...I should change clothes before I go there...get dried off a little...My cloak, I'll have to get it back soon. No, in a week. Yes, that'll work better." Hana headed into her house cautiously, glancing around to see if her mother was home by rare chance. Her arm began to really throb and Hana held it close to her body, while making sure her fingers were comfortable too.

She climbed the stairs and went to the third door on the left. After Hana opened the door and stepped into her room, she shut it quietly and went to her closet. Picking something radomly out, she began to dry her hair. When it was dry, she carefully dressed herself.

"Here goes..." her hand grabbed her shoulder and snapped her broken arm back into place. Whimpering slightly, she did the same to her fingers. Hana's eyes watered slightly, before she blinked the quickly. Violet eyes landed on the small tatami table in the center of the room, and an idea popped into her mind.

Turning on her bedroom light, she sat a tatami chair in front of the table and wrapped a blanket over it. Walking to her window, she looked down at the shadow and noticed it looked close to the shape of a person sitting there. She hoped that this would slow them down, if they were to find out this was her house.

Hana walked back down the stairs and to the front door. Glancing through the peep hole, she saw Hatori's headlights shut off at the gate. He must've seen me come in, I hope he falls for this, she thought. Locking the front door, she turned and went through the kitchen to the back door. Grabbing another cloak, Hana wrapped herself in it before grabbing her keys and walking out the door. The harsh wind through rain into her pale face and began the quick process of soaking her hair. Tucking her hair into the cloak, Hana heard the distant sounds of knocking. She didn't have long, and needed to get quite a ways away.

But why did I decide to run? This is the first time somebody has actually cared for my health. Well, other than Megumi, Tohru, and normally Uo. I knew Uo's temper was bad, but did she think she had to take it out on someone else? Will she apologize? Will she even forget the whole thing? And what about Tohru? How is she doing right now? What is she doing? Has she resolved the problem with the Sohmas?

Hana snapped out of her thoughts when she heard the knocking continue. Looking quickly to a part of the fence that was covered with trees, Hana jogged over to the trees and pushed the branches aside. Before her stood a dark alley that extended way into the middle of Tokyo, where it forked and led directly behind Hana's sanctuary, a bookstore, and to the outskirts of town. Hana heard their voices coming into the yard, and she dashed down the alley.

This rib is not helping my escape any!

"She's not here," Shigure noted as the knocked on the door for the tenth time.

"She must've seen us coming and took off out the back door...if they have one..." Hatori stepped off the sidewalk and walked across the neatly cut grass.

Why is she running from us? She, surely, knows that Shigure is trustworthy.

Hatori glanced at his longtime friend and suddenly remembered who it was he was talking about.

Atleast trustworthy enough to keep her safe. Is there something wrong with her? That she runs from me? Have I done something that I was unaware if?

Hatori shook his head, rain drops flying onto his cheek as he did. He walked around the house to a window where the the light was on. He watched the lump in the chair for a moment, before realizing it wasn't her.

"She's a tricky one." Shigure was suddenly beside him and looking up towards the window.

Movement caught deep forest green eyes, and Hatori saw the wind blow tree branches out of the way to reveal an alley that led to the city.

"Come on Shigure. If I'm correct, that alley connects with the park and then forks out, one side going to a bookstore, the other to the outer limits of the city." Hatori walked back to the car and climbed in.

"You don't appear to be too worried, Ha'ri. Do you know where she is heading?" Shigure asked as he climbed in as well and they both buckled in.

"The bookstore is owned by a friend of Kana's. I used to go in there a lot, but lately it has been a once-a-month trip. I've seen Hanajima-kun in there a few times, though I didn't realize that was her in the gothic fiction section." Hatori threw the car into reverse and squeeled down the road.

"Now you're in a hurry. Dies Haa-san have feelings for our dear Hana-chan?" Shigure poked Hatori in the arm.

"Shutup, don't inflict your criminal fantasies on me." Hatori turned a corner sharply and sent Shigure into the wall of the car.

"Ow, Ha'ri. You're so mean..."

Hana took a deep breath. The smell of books was calming her shaken nerves. Walking to one of the shelves, Hana picked her favorite book off and went to sit in a chair.

'The vampiress charged at him. He was one of the best looking prey she had ever laid eyes upon.
"You will be mine!" She screeched, flying towards the running man.
She lunged and grabbed the man. His eyes widened at the deadly beauty before. She hissed and leaned her mouth over his neck. Her long fangs slipped from their sheaths and -'

Hana's eyes snapped up from the book to the door, where Hatori and Shigure walked in.

"Low and behold, here is our runaway flower." Shigure plopped down into the chair across from her. Hatori sat quietly in the chair next to her.

After a long awkward pause, Hatori stood and offered her his hand.

"WHy should I?" Her eyes looked up into his.

"You're injured. Tohru is worried about you. She said that you helped her when she needed it, and she called to thank you. When you didn't answer, she waited a while before trying to call you again. You still didn't answer. You saw us talking in the cafe, she's still worried about you." Hatori looked to his hand and then back to her eyes.

Hana's eyes followed his to his hand and then back up where they met.

'I think I'm beginning to like this man. His waves are sad while comforting. They give off this indescribable emotion. Like a father's should, but it seems more like a lover's. I don't believe it. I'm falling for this man. It can't be true though.'

"I don't think I have much of a choice. Do I?" Her hand began to rise from her lap, but it lowered back to the book laying in her lap.

Hatori's eyes fell to the book and smirked.

"Not really. After all, we can't just leave our poor injured and possibly withering flower all by her lonesome! The weather is dreadful and flowers can drown if it rains too much." Shigure leaned cautiously on Hana's shoulder, he was being a pervert as usual.

"We'll see who will be withering in a moment." Hatori threatened, pushing Shigure's arm off her shoulder.

"Before I go with you, there are two things I'd like to do." Hana walked over to the shelf and put the book back on it's proper shelf, and turned to Shigure and Hatori.

"The Sohma family has odd waves. Please tell me what it is you harbor from the world."

Hatori glanced at Shigure who snickered slightly and tried to creep away.

"Nice try, Mr. Novelist." Hana sent a light wave to Shigure. His hair stood up slightly.

"I'll find out on my own. Yuki, Kyou, Hatsuharu, nor Momiji go anywhere near physically touching anyone. Why? Neither have you Shigure. I'll find out." Hana looked around and saw the store keeper had disappeared to the back of the store.

Hatori glanced nervously towards Shigure and then to the door.

Hana lounged at Hatori, her arms wrapping around his chest. They collapsed into Shigure, and Hana hugged him as well. The three of them collapsed to the floor, and for a moment there was silence.

POOF!